Current-motor.



J. W. LARIMORE.

CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLIOATION FILED rmmo, 1012.

I 2 BHEETB-8HBET 1.

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J. W. LARIMORE.

CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED IIIBlO, 1912.

1,096,435. Patented May12,1914.

2 SHIIETS'SHEBT 2.

UNITED STATES PAEENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. LARIMORE, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

CURRENT-MOTOR.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN T. LARLMORE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county ofSangamon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Current-Wotors, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to motors, and the principal object of the sameis to provide a simple and practical motor that can be operated byflowing water or air currents, and which is capable of rotating oroperating, in the same direction regardless of the direction of flow ofthe water or air currents changing, thereby especially adapting themotor for use in tidal waters.

In addition to the foregoing, the invention contemplates a small andcompact motor from which power can be readily taken, and one that can bereadily transported, the construction being such that all parts arethoroughly braced to withstand shocks, jars, and the like, incidental touse in streams or in connection with air currents.

One simple and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in side elevatlon ofthe improved motor. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Figs. 3 and 4, aredetail, fragmentary vertical sectional views showing, respectively, theupper and lower bearings for the power shaft, and the upper and lowerspiders of the motor. Fig. 5 is a top plan view. Fig. 6 is a sideelevation of one of the motor spiders. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one ofthe ends of the supporting frame.

The improved water current or air motor includes, in its preferredembodiment, a supporting frame that is preferably formed of light, butstrong metal bars, the metal frame being especially desirable when themotor is driven by water power for the reason that metal will withstandthe action of water and also keep the motor submerged. Said supportingframe comprises the vertical corner posts 1, preferably four, andequipped with outturned flat feet 2, so that the frame will rest on andbe bolted or otherwise attached to bottom bars or sills 3 that connectadjacent end posts, and said adjacent posts are also connected at theirupper ends by the top bars 4;. Obviously the posts and top bars 4: atthe ends of the frame may be made of single lengths of materialSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 10, 1912.

Patented May 12, 1914.

Serial No. 676,725.

as shown in Fig. 7, each length of material being shaped to produce twoend posts and one top bar that connects said posts. The described endsof the supporting frame are reinforced by the brace bars 5 which arearranged in crossing relation and suitably fastened together at theirmeeting, or crossing points. Upper and lower horizontal arms 6 and 7respectively, connect opposite corners of the ends of the supportingframe, the arms being duplicates. Each set of arms 6 and 7 converge andat their flattened meeting points, as indicated by the numeral 8, arebolted or otherwise rigidly fastened. The flattened portions 8 of thearms (5 and 7 carry the sectional bearings 9 and 1.0 fastened thereto,the bearings 9 and 10 being in vertical alinement for the reception of apower shaftll. The lower bearing 10 supports a collar 12, and the shaft11 carries a collar 13 and antifrictional balls 11 are interposedbetween the collars 12 and 13. The collars 12 and 13 and balls 14 forman antifriction step bearing for the lower end of shaft 11. The upperbearing 9 supports a collar 15 and the upper portion of shaft 11 carriesa collar 16. Anti-friction balls 17 are interposed between collars 15and 16. The collars 15 and 16 and balls 17 form a suspension bearing forthe shaft 11.

Upper and lower spiders 18 and 19 have hubs fast on the shaft 11 withinthe supporting frame, the radiating arms of the spiders being providedwith longitudinal grooves 20 which form seats for the inner ends of theupper and lower rotor bars 21. The upper and lower bars 21 are arrangedin pairs, and each pair of bars carry a pivot shaft 22 at their outerends, and at intermediate points, the pairs of bars carry the stop orabutment rods 23. Vanes or blades 24 are pivotally mounted at one edgeon the shafts 22 and are limited in their pivotal movements by the rods23, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. Theshafts 22 are held to the bars 21. by the nuts 25, so that whennecessary, or desirable, the vanes and shafts can be removed byreleasing the said nuts.

In operation, the motor is in the position shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings, and assuming that the current of water or air is flowing inthe direction indicated by arrow (1, it will be seen that the first orfront vane is held parallel with the flow of the current, while the vaneto the right is held at right angles to the current, and causes therotor to travel in the direction indicated by arrow 7), so that, whenfour vanes are used, initially one vane only is being acted on by thecurrent, the other vanes automatically swinging to feathering positions.After starting,"the vanes of the rotor at the right of the transversecenter thereof, are acted on by the current, thus causing a continuousrotary movement of the rotor, which is communicated to the shaft 11.

Power may be taken from the shaft 11 by any suitable means, such forexample as by means of a pulley 26, adapted for belt connection with theengine, pump or the like that is to be operated. In the event of thecurrent flowing through the motor from the side opposite arrow (4, thevanes at the left will become active and thereby rotate the motor in itsnormal direction.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the manner ofmounting the vanes 24 at the outer ends of the bars 21, permits the saidvanes to freely swing until they contact with the stops 23, therebycausing the vanes to be held in positions to receive the impact of thecurrent, when active, to swing to feathering positions when inactive,and in the event of a change in the direction of the flow of thecurrents, to automatically reverse their positions, so that theoperation of the motor will be continuous, irrespective of the directionof flow of the current. Incidental details, such as brace connections 27may be used to reinforce the bars 21.

In the drawing, four vanes 24 have been shown, but it is to beunderstood that more or less may be used, and also governors, reversingdevices, and similar well known mechanical accessories may be associatedwith the improved motor construction according to the requirements ofits use.

What I claim as my invention is A current motor comprising a frameworkincluding internally braced metallic end members, upper and lowerinwardly con vergent bars connecting said opposite end members, andhaving meeting central portions, bearings applied to the meetingportions of said bars, and a rotor having a shaft journaled in saidbearings.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

JOHN W. LARIMORE.

WVitnesses V T. J, OoNDoN, W. P..Bnrsoon.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of IPatents, Washington, D. C.

